The significant rise in the number of children in child labour baffles all concerned as economic hardship forces underaged children all around the country to work in perilous situations.
In many cases, these children are subjected to harm or even death with little to no accountability.
According to the latest reports of ILO (International Labour Office), child labour in Bangladesh is common, with 4.7 million children aged 5 to 14 in the work force. Out of these children engaged in the work force, 83% are employed in rural areas and 17% are employed in urban areas.
The blazing fire in the Hashem Foods factory recently shed light on the gruesome scenario that exists in the country. The fire took 52 lives where most of the victims have been reported to be women and children.
According to authorities, sectors that include child labour are divided into two parts, one being general and the other being highly risky. There are 38 sectors in Bangladesh that are identified to be highly risky. However, the juice factory that hosted the tragic incident was not one of them.
Last month on the World Day Against Child Labour, President Abdul Hamid said that the government has fixed a target to eliminate hazardous child labour by 2021 with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make the country free from all kinds of child labour by 2025.
Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) Director, Abdus Shahid Mahmood told Bangladesh Post that underaged children are involved in dangerous jobs all around the country and it is being happened in front of everyone’s eyes.
“Children between the age of 10 to 15 or sometimes even younger are seen dangling from the backs of legunas. They work in factories under risky conditions, operate machinery, work in constructions sites, all in the open”, he said.
He added that if something happens to these children to the point where they may even lose their lives, there is little to no accountability.
Begum Morsheda Hai, Assistant Secretary in the Woman and Child Lablur Section of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, told Bangladesh Post that, out of the 38 highly risky sectors, 8 sectors have already been freed from child labour.
She said, “Projects have been undertaken to tackle child labour between 2012-16 and 2018-21. Currently one is being undertaken from this year to 2025 and we have made significant progress in doing so.”
She further shared that a target was set to free 5000 child labours from July 2020-June 2021. Already 5088 children have been freed. Higher authorities of the ministry and officials on practical level take the sensitive issue of child labour with great significance.
Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, Joint Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, told Bangladesh Post that, sectors such as exports, leather goods productions, tanneries etc have already been freed from child labour.
“Our inspectors are quite vigilant. However, there are around 90000 factories in the country and only 300 inspectors. Everyone is trying their best. We have a goal to free the country off child labour by 2025”, he said.
He said “The public requires awareness as well. If an individual refuses to make an underaged child work as a domestic help, our work will become easier.”
When the correspondent contacted the owners of two garment factories, they said that their factories are strictly against hiring workers under the age of 18.
“We check all sorts of identity papers before hiring. We have come across a few cases where some workers state a false age. Hence, we make sure we reconfirm before hiring them”, said one owner.
Experts believe that poverty can be identified as the main reason behind more children getting dragged into risky jobs, especially during the pandemic.
Children are put into work to financially contribute to the family. Even if the government provides free schooling and books, many parents are not aware of it or prefer the immediate money the child is earning.